Washington Street Park in Beaufort adds playground
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Updated: 10:19 AM EST Mar 6, 2021
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Updated: 10:19 AM EST Mar 6, 2021
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OFFICERS SAY NO ONE WAS HURT. NOW TO A BIG CELEBRATION IN BEAUFORT. NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT A HISTORIC PARK. JESSICA BATTISTA EXPLAINS. WASHINGTON STREET PARK IS A PARK FILLED WITH HISTORY AND MANY PEOPLE IN THE BEAUFORT COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER THIS AFTERNOON TO CELEBRATE THE NEW ADDITION OF THE PARK. PKG: - *NAT SOUND OF RIBBON CUTTING AND APPLAUSE* THE CITY OF BEAUFORT CUT A RIBBON TO CELEBRATE THE PARK'S NEWEST FEATURES...WHICH INCLUED A BRAND NEW PLAYGROUND- ED ALLEN-FORMER CORONER OF BEAUFORT COUNTY "IF YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY YOU DON'T HEAR CHILDREN PLAYING YOU HAVE A DYING COMMUNITY. THE YOUTH IS OUR FUTURE." ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF BEAUFORT THE WASHINGTON STREET PARK IN BEAUFORT-IS A PARK THAT WAS DEVELOPED IN THE 1940'S... SOT-FRED S. WASHINGTON JR- CHAIR OF BEAUFORT COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER "UNTIL 1941 THE CITY NOR PUBLIC OFFICIAL DID NOT PROVIDE RECREATIONAL SPACES FOR NEGRO CHILDREN, SO IN 1941 A GROUP OF BLACK CITIZENS PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY FOR THEM." ED ALLEN FORMER CORONER OF BEAUFORT COUNTY REMEMBERS COMING TO THIS PLAYGROUND WHEN HE WAS A CHILD.. "THIS PARK IS THE ONLY PLACE BLACK CHILDREN HAD TO COME AND PLAY AT. THIS SWING SET BEHIND US IS ONE THAT WAS THERE WHEN I WAS A CHILD." AND HE IS PROUD TO SEE THE TRANSFORMATION OF THIS PARK- "I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, AND THAT THIS IS A REALITY." AND RIGHT AFTER-THE RIBBON WAS CUT-A BUNCH OF CHILDREN GOT TO ENJOY THE NEW PLAYGROUND--- "WE ARE TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE YOU CAN BE TOGETHER, BLACK FOLKS CAN HAVE OWNERSHIP BUT THEY CAN WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY." JESS LOOK LIVE- AND THIS PARK HAS MORE BIG PLANS IN THE FUTURE- WHICH INCLUDES ADDING A AMPHITHEA